Chapter 5 - Return to Ashes
Just as Elena was fighting for her life in the forest, a military transport vehicle
pulled up to the Aspen local airport. Logan Carter had returned. Having completed
his deployment early due to a shrapnel injury that earned him a Purple Heart, he
had flown straight to Colorado. He was determined to find her.
He took a cab to the Vance Estate. Seeing the heavily guarded gates, Logan knew
they wouldn't let him in. He climbed over the high stone perimeter wall, slipping past
the security cameras using his tactical training.
As he neared the mansion, he heard shouts and the barking of guard dogs. He hid
behind a large pine tree, observing two guards talking.
"Did you find her yet?" one guard asked, rubbing his hands together.
"No, she went into the east woods," the second guard replied. "She's heavily
pregnant and wearing next to nothing. If we don't find her soon, she's going to freeze to
death."
Logan's heart stopped. Pregnant? Heavily pregnant?
"Where is she?!" Logan roared, stepping out from the shadows and slamming the
first guard against the tree, his combat knife resting against the man's throat.
"Who the hell are you?!" the guard gasped, terrified by the sheer ferocity in Logan's
eyes.
"I'm the father of that baby!" Logan growled. "Where did she go?!"
"T-The east valley... near the old trail," the guard stammered. "But you'll never
make it in this storm!"
Logan dropped the guard, grabbed his heavy military duffel bag containing his
May you like
winter tactical gear, and ran headfirst into the raging blizzard. "I'm coming, Elena," he
whispered into the wind.
